SHAWNEE, Okla. – Jonathan Reed hit a running layup as time expired to give the Oklahoma City University men's basketball team a 67-65 win over St. Gregory's Saturday at Don Sumner Fieldhouse.
The Stars, ranked 19th in the NAIA, moved to 8-2 this season in games decided by five points or less. OCU is now 19-7, 10-6 in Sooner Athletic Conference play. St. Gregory's fell to 5-11, 9-14 in the SAC.
With four seconds left of the clock and the game tied at 65, Reed, a junior from Powder Springs, Ga., drove to the basket and put in the shot just before time ran out.
"It was a great battle back and forth," OCU head coach Vinay Patel said. "I got a little nervous when we went down early because I didn't know what direction we were going to go, but in the second half we came out with a lot of energy. We picked it up defensively being more aggressive and rebounding better."
Xavier Smith, a senior from Richardson, Texas, provided 17 points, eight rebounds, two blocks and three treys.
OCU trailed by as many as 11 points in the first half, but used a 13-3 to open the second half and take a one point lead. The game went back and forth after, with neither team leading by more than four points.
Lou Dunbar and Reed both tallied 12 points in the win. Dunbar, a junior from Seabrook, Texas, went 4-for-8 from 3-point-range and grabbed three rebounds while Reed dished out two assists and had two steals.
"This team is resilient," Patel said. "We've played 10 close games this season and have won eight so I'l take that every time."
The Stars turned the ball over 18 times, but shot 47.1 percent from the floor, including 53.6 percent in the second half, while St. Gregory's shot only 37.3 percent.
Walter Rickett, a junior out of Dallas, hit every shot he took as he totaled 11 points on 3-of-3 from the floor and 4-for-4 from the free-throw stripe.
Jordan Rutherford led the Cavaliers with 15 points and five rebounds.
OCU plays its final home game of the season 8 p.m. Thursday against No. 21 Southwestern Assemlblies of God (Texas) at Abe Lemon Arena.